Tri-Circle-D

Also, sad to report that there is still no money budgeted for spellcheck or a new sign:

Unfortunately, the budget didn’t include doing anything about the ugly fence around the old TCD Ranch:

TCD

That rumor is true Grumpy!

There is too much sod, there are a lot less trees, but it’s 1000% better than the eyesore that was here for the past 2 1/2 years. As far as I could see, there are no speakers anymore- so no fireworks music unless they set up portable speakers.

TCD

12 hours ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

awww, sadness.  But not as much as you have for the cancellation.  Gonna go check out the DPB now!

Yeah it’s a bummer. The twins were booked on the maiden voyage but canceled when we got booked for the test cruise. We will get on the Wish eventually- hopefully later this year. 

TCD

thanks for sharing that news Jason. I’m pleasantly surprised.

TCD

On 5/31/2022 at 9:03 AM, ThemeParkCommando said:

Oooohhh.. Trip report when you are done, please!

Sorry, but there will be no trip report. We were notified last night that this test cruise was canceled. The ship is currently full of vendors frantically at work getting the ship ready for the maiden voyage. At least TCD twin #2 got to attend a pajama party at the terminal Sunday night to welcome the Wish home- you can spot her in the video from this event currently on the Disney Parks Blog.  So, we will not be the first guests to sail on the Wish out of Port Canaveral. Time to look for some new bragging rights, and to book a date for a later sailing.

TCD

17 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

From the Disney Cruise Line Blog.

Today, Port Canaveral commissioners unanimously approved a multi-day special event request from Disney Cruise Line to welcome the Disney Wish. Currently, the Disney Wish is scheduled to arrive early on June 20, 2022.

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2022/05/port-canaveral-set-to-welcome-disney-wish-on-june-20-2022/

Woo hoo. Check the Port Canaveral web cams for the TCD gang sailing on the first DCL CM test cruise on June 24th!!

It’s still good to be TCD!

TCD

This sign was posted at the Meadow Campfire area when I visited the Fort last weekend:

Here we are with campsite prices at an all time high, and the campfire has been reduced to one hour. No sing-a-long, no chipmunks. They can’t even be bothered to set up a food service location to sell s’mores kits. The food truck is mainly parked at the settlement these days. 

I doubt the sing-a-long and chipmunks will ever be back.  No way is Disney going to allow “free” entertainment with characters anymore. 

Boo!

TCD

Terrible news!  Ms. Sundee was the best. So much better than the dumb cowboys that replaced her. 

TCD

20 hours ago, AC in A2......Aaron said:

Can anyone post the current calendar?  Much appreciated!

TCD

Hey if they put something over there it might distract guests from looking at the chain linked eyesore right across from it. Genius. 

TCD

17 hours ago, Griselle Gonzalez said:

Hi! Are tents allowed with an RV at the premium meadows loop? 

Yes. Although on most sites, the tent will need to be set up on the concrete pad. 

TCD

10 hours ago, Theed31u said:

We have been to the Fort a few times and have always stayed in the full hookup 1700 loop.  We first stayed in the back of the loop and fell in love with the sites around site 1719.  When booking for this June there were 2 out of 14 days that were blocking us from getting a full hookup site so now we are in preferred and not sure how we will like it.  

Are there any advantages to any of the preferred loops?  We are a family of 6 with kids that love to ride bikes, is there one loop that might be better to let the kids ride?  

I'm trying to see if it is worth our time to keep checking for availability of full hookup or just go with the preferred.

Thanks!

The alleged advantage of the preferred loops (100, 200, and 300) is the close proximity to the Settlement area. The 100 and 200 loops are very close to the Settlement. There is a nice playground there and the new horse barn is nice to visit. However, even the Fort management recognized the dubious advantage of being close to the Settlement by rebranding the loops close to the Meadow area and jacking up the rates for those sites.  As far as bike riding goes, the loops aren’t the best place for kids to ride, but there are plenty of other sidewalks and areas around the Settlement and Meadow areas for that, and there is also a very nice trail that runs along Bay Lake between the Settlement area and the 300 loop.

TCD 

23 hours ago, lightbikes said:

So the question is how long can a company that is supposed to be as public/family/tradition oriented as Disney keep a  CEO who's being booed at every public appearance?

What a naive question from this blogger. Chapek isn’t going anywhere. He’s doing exactly what the Board of Directors wants him to do- maximize profits no matter the cost. A better question would be to ask how much longer will D23 be around?  The Disney company clearly doesn’t give a rat’s ass about their fans, and that isn’t changing any time soon. 

TCD

On 11/7/2021 at 5:23 PM, Grumpy and Grandma said:

On the Wonder for the East bound Panama Canal.  Only 850 guests on board, 27 kids and outnumbered by the crew, 920.

Wow. What a unique experience you will have. Enjoy!

TCD

9 minutes ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

We found the wait times on GENIE to match what is posted at the attraction.

That’s probably true, but the posted wait times are not accurate. They can’t be- Disney is not using the available technology to measure wait times. They are guesses, or in some cases deliberate exaggerations. There are numerous YouTube videos from experienced park visitors that show this to be the case. 

TCD

2 hours ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

Having the ability to see the wait times in my hand, instead of having to find a board or walk to the ride to decide, is also a good thing. 

True, but wait times were available on the MDE app for the entire existence of FP+. So Genie is no improvement on that. 

Further, Disney has not used the red cards that they used to hand to guests to accurately measure wait times since they reopened after the Covid shutdown. Thus, all wait times are guesstimates, and Disney has deliberately been posting inflated wait times. Inflated wait times probably help Genie+ sales, but I’m sure there is some other honest reason Disney is posting fake wait times. 

TCD

9 hours ago, Theed31u said:

The free service seems more like Disney pushing crowds where they want them and marketing dining to you.  After watching multiple YouTube videos of people's experiences, I do think we will be doing it old school and using all the standby lines.

Bingo!  This app is a blatant effort by Disney to try to move crowds to where they want them to go and to try to upsell food and lightning lane access and has nothing to do with improving the guest experience. It is ridiculous that the damned thing makes quick service food recommendations along with attraction recommendations with no way for the guest to stop that. Absolutely awful and unhelpful.

TCD

1 hour ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

I'm thinking the app will work wonders for those guests who have never been to the parks, and never thought once about planning their day ahead of time.  They will find it so helpful to be able to see posted wait times, and purchase the plus package to 'cut in front'.  Those folks will feel special and find it magical.  For those of us who plan the day and read up on average waits at each ride, understand what RD means and zag when others zig, it won't be nearly as helpful.

Heck, down here in San Antonio, I see people shelling out their money to get the Quick Queue option ( $20 per person/day), when it is not necessary except for maybe 2 of the rides, and even then those rides standby waits are less than 20 minutes most days.  

People are willing to pay for what they perceive as convenience. 

The only people this app will help are Disney executives and shareholders. 

ETA- and travel agents.  I forgot them.  They will make nice commissions selling Genie+ to their guests  

TCD

On 10/11/2021 at 11:25 AM, keith_h said:

I guess they don't want those of us that don't like to micromanage their day or to be micromanaged when visiting the parks. 

The claims they are making about how this app will help guests are ridiculous. It’s bad enough that they are price gouging again, but what makes it worse is that the damn app will be just as glitchy as all of their other app iterations. The DCL app is a piece of crap. The MDE app crashed at the MK for most of the day on the big 50th anniversary day on October 1.  And they expect us to believe that this new app will somehow plan a perfect day for guests? No way. 

TCD

4 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Sigh... I don't understand.   I guess I need more coffee 

Nothing to understand. Just another disgusting money grab. 

TCD

6 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: